…”learn to live with it”.
On the arrival of George Mitchell, Obama’s envoy in Israel to negotiate a two state solution within two years, Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, announced there is no chance of an early solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The announcement suggests that this Likud government has elected to “manage the conflict,” to use Jeff Halper’s (ICAHD) words, rather than resolving it, and nothing in Netanyahu’s actions suggest otherwise.
Israel’s colonialism continues unabated.
Avigdor Lieberman does not lead Israeli peace negotiations, but his statement casts a pall over latest US diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations. Envoy George Mitchell is in the region, spearheading Obama administration efforts to relaunch negotiations. Talks are stalled over the issue of Jewish settlements on occupied land.
Mr Mitchell is due to meet Mr Lieberman and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Friday.
Reports quote US officials saying the visit was unlikely to conclude with a resumption of talks.
“learn to live with it”, indeed.